Gracias Tio Sam. #Repost A Sentiment worth repeating.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!  

This was a post originally written in 2012, reposted in 2015 as front story for Conexion, and TBT in 2020 here on the blog. Despite recent events of laws being overturned and laws that need to be inacted, USA is casa, and BB is so very thankful that she can say that.

#GodBlessAmerica

If you've been following Babushka you know I'm all about the positive, wonderful things in life. So if you think this is a political statement JU SO FONII!!! Ok, si, maybe a little, but mainly it's about gratitude. Gratitude to a country that welcomed and still welcomes my people from Cuba.

Mil Gracias to you mi querido USA,

 for as a first generation Cuban American I can never say it enough.

 BB knows what her fate would have been if you hadn't welcomed her family.

MY CHILDHOOD

Children indoctrinated into Communism

MY YOUTH

Control in all categories

MY SHOPPING LIST

Rations Book

STORES TO SHOP

Slim Selection And though we are all children of immigrants, I only need to look 90 miles away to see where I would have been  and know what I would have done.

Exodo del Mariel

Feliz Cumples America,  Happy 4th of July! Celebrate your freedom with pride and cheer. For her part, BB is adding gratitude to the celebration.

Babushka Besos a Todos. Cuidensen.

#TBT A BB Bounceback - Gracias Tio Sam & Happy Birthday America !

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!  

This was a post originally written in 2012. Time has changed, but BB's sentiment is igual. #GodBlessAmerica

If you've been following Babushka you know I'm all about the positive, wonderful things in life. So if you think this is a political statement JU SO FONII!!! Ok, si, maybe a little, but mainly it's about gratitude. Gratitude to a country that welcomed and still welcomes my people from Cuba.

Mil Gracias to you mi querido USA,

 for as a first generation Cuban American I can never say it enough.

 I know what my fate would have been if you hadn't welcomed my family.

MY CHILDHOOD

Children indoctrinated into Communism

MY YOUTH

Control in all categories

MY SHOPPING LIST

Rations Book

STORES TO SHOP

Slim Selection




And though we are all children of immigrants,
I only need to look 90 miles away to see where I would have been
 and know what I would have done.

Exodo del Mariel



Feliz Cumpleaños America,  Happy 4th of July!
Celebrate your freedom with pride and cheer.

For my part, I'm adding gratitude to the celebration.

Bohemian Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  The photos were found on Pinterest, some on Cuban groups on Feibu.  Perdoname that I didn't find or write down the exact sources.  The author of the video is Gianluca Zanna, a former Italian Immigrant.

Purdy Pictures NOT Political. "CUBA - This Moment, Exactly So. A coffee table book & more" by @LorneResnick

"This book is not meant to be an accurate journalist record of Cuba – I am not a journalist. I look at this work more as a visual poem. So, this is my love poem to Cuba. This is only a slice of Cuba. My slice. Shot through my eyes and heart.~Lorne Resnick

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!

Now y'all know Babushka is far from being political, but she is definitivamente not far from being Cuban, and loving all that entails. Quee? Ok si, JU SO FONII almost all that entails. Being born in the US I don't have the bittersweet memories of the island that my father and La Tata have, so I'd like to see Cuba from someone who loves her as she is, not as she was or remembered to be. To see her essence from a non native, a stranger who sees with "los ojos del corazon", the beauty in all her parts, oh what a gift that is My Beautifuls! 

This gift can be ours- but we have less than 48 hours to make it so.  

Please join Babushka in bringing this work of love and art to the public.

CUBA- This Moment, Exactly So by Lorne Resnick

kickstarter link

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

"Rather than concentrating on Cuba's storied history I use the images, interviews and stories in this book to capture how it feels to be in Cuba: moments filled with passion, desire, friendship, love, laughter, beauty, grace and joy...moments that you long for in life and never forget when they happen. Those moments, exactly so."

Ahora, di la verdad. 

With poetic words like that you KNOW the pictures have to be heartfelt and heart grabbing. 

And porsea you have doubts,

These are the covers you can pick. Si My Beautifuls, YOU pick.  Further proof of the quality and soul of this award winning photographers work and his love for the subject. He invites you into the love affair by letting you choose the face you'll see each day. Y you will want to see it- every day.

Help me spread the word My Beautifuls. Tweety, Feibu, actually call someone up!!

Este es digno, it's very worthy of publication.

A love story of almost 20 years.

Una historia de Amor.

CUBA- This Moment, Exactly So by Lorne Resnick

kickstarter link

BB2U

BB will be sent a copy of the book in return for this post, 

but the opinions y las ganas de tener the book are all Babushka's.

Mixed on McDonald's- La Gallina Vieja's 1st Guest Post

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  Today Babushka is letting La Gallina Vieja write her first post- y por supuesto, it's a bit confrontational.I've known her my whole life so BB assures you her heart is in the right place, she's just more opinionated than Babushka.  Queee??  JU SO FONII!!!  Ok si, BB definitely has opinions, but LGV is more vocal about them.  Continuing.

MIXED ON MCDONALD'S  by La Gallina Vieja

While in Miami, I usually stay with my grandmother, La Tata in Little Havana.  Along with many other things, Little Havana had a neighborhood McDonald's that really was a neighborhood McDonald's.  The architecture was Spanish style shingles,they served Cuban style coffee, the menu was bilingual and the playground a nice diversion for children with no nearby park. FUERA! GONE! Totally demolished and rebuilt to match everyother cookie cutter McDonald's they're making across the nation.  Well, before I continue w/the tirade let me share the good times-because we all know there's good/bad in everything.

Grandsons w/their best "Ok Grandma,
we're smiling for this picture- now can we go play?"

Funslide, Face Painting and Frisbees 

not to mention a Funky Ronald-

Fun times yes, but fleeting and fragile.  In a community proud of its' Hispanic roots they've totally removed everything Spanish- except for the employees and the cafe con leche which is the only Spanish item left in this McDonald's.  The language isn't the only thing missing from our culture.  Latins have a very strong sense of community and that includes knowing what everyone else is doing- they've taken the prior configuration where you could see everyone and compartmentalized the place. Ciao Chismeria and socializing.  Another very essential part of our upbringing is being good hosts and sharing whatever we may have.  Anyone who's ever been to a Cuban's home knows the first thing asked is "Would you like anything to drink?"

So you KNOW this is so WRONG.

Also wrong- how can you put calorie count on the now all English menu, especially stressing how health and weight concious your brand is and then turn around and take away the playground?  And adding insult to injury you've now added a video game section, further immobilizing our youth and curtailing their physical and social skills.  Que? Our children don't get enough of that?  Is that what your ultimate goal is?  To have a world that looks all the same with drones who follow blandness because individuality is not welcomed? Easier to control huh?  Bueno, so sorry con escumi but not here.  We've already lost our individuality somewhere else,  and I for one don't take this lightly.  

White bread is fine for others, but in this neighborhood bring me my pan Cubano. 

 Obviously it's all about the buck for you Mickey D,

therefore I'll be going to a place where my culture is King.

Hasta la proxima- LGV

further info:  http://www.littlehavanainc.com/Mcdonalds.html

LGV  facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Gallina-Vieja/297314457051368

Civic Duty & Pride - Day 26 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

Yesterday Babushka did her civic duty and voted. 

Early. 

With Pride.

Quickly, look at the picture and what do you see?

Two Flags.  

The American flag and the Marine Corps flag.

My tagline- JU SO FONII!!!

BB's picture and website.

Do you know what Babushka sees?

Two Flags.

The country that welcomed my people and those who would give up their lives for that welcome.

My tagline.

The freedom to say what I believe in.

BB's Picture and website.

I don't need to go into hiding.  I can express myself without fear.

And though I believe in being an individual and following one's dreams, I believe in something else even stronger.

 In a country of individuals there are times we must think of the whole.

It's a privilege to be able to live here. 

Our "Right" to vote is a privilege too.

You only need go 90 miles off Florida's Keys to relinquish that right.

Go VOTE My Beautifuls.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Gracias Tio Sam & Happy Birthday America

If you've been following Babushka you know I'm all about the positive, wonderful things in life. So if you think this is a political statement JU SO FONII!!! Ok, si, maybe a little, but mainly it's about gratitude. Gratitude to a country that welcomed and still welcomes my people from Cuba.

Mil Gracias to you mi querido USA,

 for as a first generation Cuban American I can never say it enough.

 I know what my fate would have been if you hadn't welcomed my family.

MY CHILDHOOD

Children indoctrinated into Communism

MY YOUTH

Control in all categories

MY SHOPPING LIST

Rations Book

STORES TO SHOP

Slim Selection




And though we are all children of immigrants,
I only need to look 90 miles away to see where I would have been
 and know what I would have done.

Exodo del Mariel



Feliz Cumpleaños America,  Happy 4th of July!
Celebrate your freedom with pride and cheer.

For my part, I'm adding gratitude to the celebration.

Bohemian Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  The photos were found on Pinterest, some on Cuban groups on Feibu.  Perdoname that I didn't find or write down the exact sources.  The author of the video is Gianluca Zanna, a former Italian Immigrant.

La Tata

La Tata- Tatarabuela, Great Great grandmother of my grandchildren, Great grandmother of my trio, grandmother to Babushka, mother of mi Padre. Wow- that's a lot of mothering and a lot of love.

But if you think this was a typical stay at home kind of mothering - JU SO FONII !!!

Born in Cuba, in the Province of Oriente, she was the second youngest of twelve. Always with fire and liking the finer things, she was nicknamed "La Faraona" (the Pharoah) by her siblings; little did they know how well that was going to help them all. Her take charge "it's gotta be done" attitude helped her survive and succeed in a life that seems almost made for TV.

In a place and time when women didn't work outside the home, she was a single mom raising her son by selling insurance policies door to door. Her tenacity captured the heart and hand of a Count, but when he became too strict with her boy she kicked the Count to the curb. Sensing the political unrest on the island , she refused to let the new government indoctrinate her teen, so she left her beloved family and headed to the US- just her and her son. Arriving in New York she found the immigrants life, working in factories and learning the language, but she also found love. Marrying "Nonno", a handsome Sicilian with a talent for cooking, they scrimped together enough to open a restaurant in The Village. Thanks to their hard work and love of family, they were able to bring most of her siblings and their families from Cuba.

But as in all good novelas, the union was not to last, and though it was true love they had to go their separate ways. By this time they had moved to Miami, he had opened another restaurant and she decided she wanted music and distraction- so she opened a nightclub. Again, ahead of her time, in a man's world, she was the owner of the club, while wearing long sequinced gowns with a gun holder under the plumes. It was Miami in the 80's, Cocaine Cowboys had the bucks, but they didn't get to ride in her saloon.

Didn't I tell you this would be a great mini series ?!?!

Bueno, para no cansarte, she made it through the 80's and now is almost in her 90's. Legally papers say she's 87 pero en realidad they didn't keep the best of records in her little town in Cuba and she's 2 years older. ¿Viste? She's still living a story- and I'm grateful to be there to listen.

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen

Extremes are Excellent!

Come on, be truthful, if not with me at least with yourself.
"Sometimes you feel like a nut-sometimes you don't."
The In and Out.  The Sane and Insane.  El Caliente y el Frio.
We all have it, do it, live it.

Ejemplo.  Ever had a super size fast food meal- with a diet drink?  Or how about those "lite" chocolate bars?  And don't think this only applies to food, (though being Cuban I had to mention food first) it's pretty much across the board.  Mini vans with mad rims, remixes of old songs, (how surreal is that?) telling children to lower their voices and then screaming at them when they didn't...


Gotcha on that last one didn't I?


Don't be ashamed or embarrassed.  Extremes are excellent!  They get the blood a pumpin' and keep people from taking you for granted.  A word to the wise though- use caution here.  "Extreming" must be done tastefully and in moderation.  Try to limit yourself to 3 extreming episodes a day.  4 if you're Cuban.  Ok, ok- El  absolute max is 5 "si se te sube lo Cubano".  Better a mosquita muerta que una loca!  Although crazy has its advantages too.  But that I'll leave for another time...

Being a "grown up" can be boring- and being an even keeled, always controlled, in check individual makes you...actually, I've never met anyone like that.  So, I guess that makes you dead- or at least not Cuban.  Same difference.  JK.  Though if you think about it, the straight line is a symbol for smooth, and also a symbol of flatlining- death.  Coincidence?  Just a thought.  I know- JU SO FONII !!!

For me, "que le pongan salsa"- give me my extremes, my high heels, and my attitudes, 'cause nobody is gonna sleep when Babushka's around!




Babushka Besos a Todos- Cuidensen  









P.S.  If you've enjoyed this post please go to Facebook and "like" my page.  Mil Gracias.


                                                                                                                                                           

Introductions

Hola- or as we say around here, "Howdy".  Yep, Babushka's in "The South", which is funny if you think about it, because I spent most of my life in South Florida (Miami) which is further South than here, yet it's NEVER considered part of "The South".  North Havana maybe, but never "The South".  But I go off topic... get used to it- it's one of my many talents.

Babushka, full name Bohemian Babushka, BB if I like you, or THE Bohemian Babushka if I don't, has had in my 49 years, 2 marriages, 2 divorces, ____ lovers (being presently in "The South" I fall back on the Southern Belle's code of propriety and leave that blank, instead of a Miami "¿ Y Santa quien? )  many jobs, many businesses, many heartaches, but many heart sings as well.  Of course my Number One heart sings are my children.  Si, they also gave me heartache, but we all made it through puberty so, why dwell on that?  Borron y cuenta nueva.  My trio are my rocks- ok, at times rocks in/at the head, but again- why dwell on that?  My rocks, my reason for being (being crazy- sorry, beginning to dwell on that), my joys my true loves.  Until the grandchildren came into the picture.  Not that my trio aren't my true loves anymore, it's just that grandbabies are so tiny, so precious, and still so far away from puberty.  Ok, I'm dwelling- ever heard of shellshock?

Grandbabies- I've got 4 so far.  I say "so far"  because my eldest ( a 26 yr old beauty) has 2- a boy and a girl.; my son (a 25 yr old ex-Marine who has done his mom proud in so many ways)  has 2 boys and my little one (19 yr old intense yet sweet girl/woman who is striking, intelligent, gifted and better not be thinking of making babies yet) are still young enough to add to the family.  But not right now- por fa.  Let BB enjoy people saying "but you look so young to be a grandmother!" a little longer.  While I can still semi believe them.


Babushka has enjoyed this immensely and hopes you will dance with me again.  This has been but a little tease of who I am.  Tease- reminds me of my high school days, but again I'm going off topic. (such talent!) My blog will be on family,being female, being bilingual, being human -while always being brilliant.

And to those who don't understand YOUR brilliance, just look at them, smile, and say-
JU SO FONII !!!

Babushka Besos a todos-  Cuidensen

P.S.  If you've enjoyed this post please go to Facebook and "like" my page.  Mil Gracias.